Mr Farron's Compost Corner - Autumn Update 2023

Priory’s gardens are our pride and joy and award-winning gardener Mr Farron wants to let parents and pupils know what to expect each month as the landscape changes.  

It has been a very special year for Priory gardens with many visits from local councillors, trustees, parents and horticultural experts, and not forgetting the press. It was through these interested individuals that we have been shortlisted for an award for the Royal Horticultural Society's North West in Bloom.  I will be able to inform you of the result after 19th October, so fingers crossed. 

However, it is the time of year (Autumn) to consider replanting trees and shrubs, cutting down annuals and preserving perennials, and giving the soil a winter feed, cleaning and maintaining tools for the coming Spring. 

In this edition, I have decided to concentrate my advice for the successful planting of trees for late Autumn and Winter. 

Winter Interest

A shrub with a tree shape such as standard rose or fuchsias is ideal if your front garden gets plenty of sun. When the flowers are over, you can move the tree, if potted, for an evergreen to give some interest.  During the winter months many conifers, especially varieties of Juniper and Cyprus, make useful potted trees to fill a space. Celebrate an important event in your family by planting a specimen tree, i.e. in school we planted a standard rose, named the Anniversary Rose, to celebrate Priory's 70th anniversary – this can be found in the Rose Garden 

A Tree for Every Season

Here I suggest a tree for every season which will give interest all year round.

Winter – Holly (Llex) - red, yellow or orange berries, Pussy Willow (Salix Caprea) 

Spring – Flowering Cherry (Prunus varieties) - pink or white blossom

Summer – Cornus Controversa - white flowers, Weeping Buddleia, Alternifolia - purple flower, Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa bignoniodes) – white flower

Autumn – Mountain Ash - red orange or white berries, Maple Acer - red orange or yellow leaves

Mr C Farron, Gardener
Honorary Member of the RHS
Winner of Britain in Bloom, North West in Bloom, South Ribble in Bloom and Penwortham in Bloom
Judge for South Ribble in Bloom and Penwortham in Bloom